Solar collector-reflector system

ABSTRACT

The solar collector-reflector system includes at least one modular solar panel having a solar collector-reflector assembly, a driver for selective collection or reflection of solar energy, attachment assembly, mounting assembly, ducting and a controller for controlling the solar energy collection and reflection configuration based on the sensed temperature. The solar collector-reflector assembly has surfaces that either collect or reflect solar energy, and the solar collector-reflector system utilizes air-to-air heat transfer to provide additional heating or cooling to an existing system in a dwelling and thereby reduce energy consumption and costs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/202,745, filed Mar. 31, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to solar energy devices, and morespecifically, to a solar collector-reflector system that may be used asa means to regulate the temperature in a dwelling while also using thesystem as an additional heat source for household systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently, feasible and cost-effective alternative energy sources are inhigh demand due to the costs of limited natural resources such as fossilfuels and coal, both to the consumer as well as the producer. The costsfor maintaining energy consumption for heating and cooling a typicalhome is on the rise. Two of the existing solutions for this issueinvolve solar panels. While they may provide adequate additional energyresource, the first photovoltaic systems are expensive and inefficient,and inverters are required to convert DC to AC power. Another method isusing ethylene glycol/water systems that require a separate liquid toair heat exchanger to transfer solar heat to the dwelling and/or hotwater heating system. While adequate, installation is costly due to theadditional hardware.

Thus, a solar collector-reflector system solving the aforementionedproblems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The solar collector-reflector system includes at least one modular solarpanel having a solar collector-reflector assembly, a driver forselective collection or reflection of solar energy, attachment assembly,mounting assembly, ducting and a controller for controlling the solarenergy collection and reflection configuration based on the senseddifference in temperature. The solar collector-reflector assembly hassurfaces that either collect or reflect solar energy, and the solarcollector-reflector system utilizes air-to-air heat transfer to provideadditional heating or heat reflection to an existing system in adwelling and thereby reduce energy consumption and costs.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a solarcollector-reflector system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a modular solar panel of a solarcollector-reflector system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the modular solar panel of a solarcollector-reflector system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial side view of the modular solar panel of asolar collector-reflector system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial side view in section of the modular solarpanel according to the present invention, showing the driver for a solarcollector-reflector system.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a solar collector-reflector tube of asolar collector reflector system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a solarcollector-reflector assembly of a solar collector-reflector systemaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a modular solar panel incorporating thealternative solar collector-reflector assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the alternative modular solar panel without theside frame member for a solar collector-reflector system according tothe present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the alternative modular solar panel frame fora solar collector-reflector system according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a partial diagrammatic view of a household heating/coolingsystem utilizing the solar collector-reflector system according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 is a section view of ducting (cooler air) from FIG. 1 for asolar collector-reflector system according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a section view of ducting (heated air) from FIG. 1 for asolar collector-reflector system according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a section view of a supplemental water tank from FIG. 11 fora solar collector-reflector system according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a controller for a solarcollector-reflector system according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a solar collector-reflector system thatselectively collects or reflects solar energy and uses air-to-air heattransfer to provide either additional heating or enhanced coolingresource to an existing household air conditioning system and therebyreduce energy costs. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the solarcollector-reflector system 10 includes a plurality of solar panels 20arranged in an array on a roof of a household or dwelling and ducting50, 51 to direct air through the array and the dwelling. Each modularsolar panel 20 includes a solar panel housing 21 and a plurality ofsolar collector-reflector tubes 23 having end caps 22. The solar panelhousing 21 may be composed of aluminized Vinyl plastic or polishedaluminum channel frame members. Polished aluminum or Vinyl cross braces27 may be provided within the frame to support the Plexiglas cover 39and prevent sagging of the same during the heating mode. To connectadjacent solar panels 20, a coupling 30 is used to connect the shaft 29to a corresponding shaft from the adjacent solar panel. Each coupling 30includes pins 30′ slidably inserted into slot 29′ of the shaft 29. Thesecouplings 30 permit synchronized rotation of all the tubes 23 in thearray of solar panels 20.

To drive the tubes 23, attention is directed to FIGS. 3-5. As shown inthe Figures, coupling 30 engages a drive torque rod 38 that runs thefull length of the solar panel frame. Spaced bearing support angles 35include needle roller bearings 37 to support the torque rod 38 along itslength. Each horizontal gang of solar panels can be powered by one gearmotor drive in place of one of the end couplings 30. Since eachhorizontal row of ganged solar panels are also coupled to the nextabutting horizontal row of panels via couplings 30, and since all tubes23 also rotate within very low friction needle roller bearings 36mounted within the bracket holding the shaft 29, one gear motor providesenough torque to drive all panels simultaneously. A precision worm gear34 drives gear 33 to rotate a tube 23 at one end of the solar panel viashaft 29. Every shaft 29 in the bank of tubes 23 has a spur gear 32. Thespur gears 32 mesh all the tubes in the bank together, thereby providingequal and synchronized rotation of all the tubes 23. Synchronizedrotation may be accomplished by other means, such as a chain drive orpulley type system. However Nylon spur gears are inexpensive and providea more positive and lighter weight function. The long channels include aplurality of openings 40, which permit air to flow across and parallelto the tubes 23, as well as through the tubes 23, due to the holes 26formed on each of the end caps 22.

Each solar panel 20 includes an aluminum or Vinyl bottom 39′ embossedwith integral ribs 28 to provide rigidity. A Styrofoam sheet 39″ may beprovided beneath the bottom 39′ for thermal insulation.

Referring to FIG. 6, the solar collection-reflection tube 23 is analuminum tube having two different surfaces. The reflection surface 24is polished to reflect solar energy, i.e. reflecting mode, while thecollection surface 25 may be black anodized to absorb the solar energy,i.e. heating mode.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10, these drawings disclose an alternative solarpanel, which is lighter in weight. The solar collector-reflectorassembly 100 includes an endless belt 102 preferably made of aluminizedMylar. The belt 102 rotates about rollers 104. Half the length of belt102 is provided with black solar collector corrugations 101 which areheat-sealed to the reflective portion of the belt 102, i.e. thenon-corrugated portion of the belt. Since Mylar has good thermalinsulation characteristics, the surface temperature of the black portionwill sustain higher temperatures when exposed to solar energy ascompared to the aluminum tubes. One of the rollers 104 may be laterallyspring loaded to maintain belt tension as well as compensating forthermal expansion. A drive mechanism may be attached to rod 103 throughbearing 136 to thereby power the other roller 104 and the endless belt102.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 11-14, all solar panels 20 may be gang mountedas shown and bolted to a series of parallel I-beams 53. Elastomericgaskets 31 may be installed between each solar panel 20 to provide waterand airtight seal. Each gasket is preferably made of extruded, silverpigmented Silicon rubber. An air inlet duct 50 includes longitudinalpartition 81 and supplies airflow to the entire lower bank of solarpanels. As shown in FIG. 12, the partition 81 separates the inlet duct50 into two compartments. These dual compartments allow equalization ofthe air pressure drop through all the sloping rows of solar panels tothereby assure uniform heating in each sloping stack. Air outlet duct 51includes a plurality of openings 54 for receiving the airflow up throughall the panels. Both ducts may be lined with thermal insulatingStyrofoam 82. The outer walls of the ducts are preferably made ofpolished aluminum or polished galvanized sheet metal.

To utilize the heating and reflecting capabilities of the solarcollector-reflector system 10, external return duct 52 is connected tothe existing return duct 64 to the furnace 60. Three valves 57, 59, 63are provided into the existing duct. These valves are automaticallycycled by a modified house thermostat. During the summer months, whenair conditioning is utilized, valve 57 is motor operated into the closedposition, rotating the vane into the vertical position while valve 63 ismotor driven to the open position also sealing off duct 64 (as shown bydashed line) from the furnace 60. Normal operation of the furnace fan 61draws house air in through valve opening 63, goes through the existingair conditioning heat exchanger in the furnace cabinet, and isdistributed to all the rooms in the house via existing ducting 62. Also,during the summer months, potable water may be heated using the roofmounted solar panel array via the auxiliary tank 76. A modifiedthermostat located on the standard (existing) hot water heater 77 willautomatically close the vane door of the motorized valve 59 (showndashed) and energize the hot water tank fan 58 and the small low powercentrifugal pump 72 which will circulate the water between the two tanks76, 77. This action may also be controlled by sensing the temperature ofthe uppermost solar array duct whereby the temperature in the duct ishigher than the low set point temperature of the water heater'sthermostat. During the winter months, valves 57 and 59 will be open andvalve 63 will be closed (as shown in solid line). House return air tothe solar array system will flow through valve 59. This area, i.e. thebasement, is normally the coldest part of the dwelling. The ductingleading from the window 56 to valve 57 and to the hot water heater willbe thermally insulated, as well as the plumbing lines 75, 75′ and theline above plumbing line 75 running between the two water tanks/heaters76, 77. The cold-water inlet line 70 enters the auxiliary heater tank76. From there, heated water will enter the standard heater tank 77.Check valve 71 only permits water flow from the standard tank heater 77to the auxiliary tank heater 76. The existing pressure relief valve 73protects both tanks.

Referring to FIG. 15, this drawing schematically shows the controller 90for synchronized rotation of the solar collector-reflector system 10 andthe tubes 23. Switch 91 is a DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw) switchautomatically cycled by the modified house thermostat. If the thermostatis set to the ‘heat’ position and the temperature sensor in the arrayindicates or senses a higher temperature than the set point temperature,power from the power supply is directed to the gear motor(s) 96 torotate all array tubes 23 to the ‘black side up’ position. A cam wheel92 located on the master powered solar panel has a cam stud 93, whichrotates on the array tube's longitudinal axis. When the stud 93 engagesa microswitch 94, power to the gear motor 96 is turned off and all arraytubes will have rotated 180° with their black surfaces facing skyward.If the tubes are already in the ‘black surface up’ position, switch 94is in the open circuit condition and the gear motor(s) is/are notenergized. Both switches 94 and 95 are wired normally closed. If thethermostat is set in the ‘cool’ position, switch 91 is toggled toreverse polarity thereby supplying power to operate the gear motor(s) 96in the opposite direction until the stud 93 engages microswitch 95. Atthis point all array tubes will have their reflective surfaces facingskyward. In order to minimize the heat gain of a roof that is alreadyshingled, it is recommended that all areas of the roof not covered byarray panels be clad with reflective aluminum sheet or polishedgalvanized sheet metal. For new building construction, polished claddingshould be installed in lieu of colored shingles. Homes that already havegalvanized metal sheet roofs should be painted with reflective silver,or at least white. They may also be polished in place.

It is noted that the solar collector reflector system encompasses avariety of alternatives. For example, the blackened surfaces of the tube23 and the belt 102 may include a plurality of raised surfaces toincrease the area of solar energy absorption. As shown in FIG. 6, thecollection surface 25 may include black tinsel strips and/or tufts 25′along the length of the tube 23 to effectively increase the blackenedsurface area. Similarly, the blackened corrugations 101 may also includeblack tinsel strips and/or tufts 101′. While the raised surfaces havebeen disclosed as strips, other shapes such as rounded or geometricshaped protrusions in a variety of patterns may also be viable toincrease surface area. In light of this configuration, the raisedsurfaces help create turbulence in the airflow which increases the heattransfer coefficient in addition to increasing the rate of heatabsorption due to the larger area.

[make note about the efficiency of invention—an example—about 75% solarconversion efficiency in summer and 55% in winter—using a 1500 ft2 ofrealestate]

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A solar collector reflector system, comprising: at least one modular,enclosed solar panel, the solar panel being rectangular and having aselectively operable solar collector-reflector assembly and atransparent cover, the solar collector-reflector assembly havingsurfaces collecting or reflecting solar energy to transfer heat throughmedia; a driver assembly to drive the solar collector-reflectorassembly; ducting; and a controller selectively actuating the driverassembly, the controller having means for sensing differentialtemperatures.
 2. The solar collector reflector system according to claim1, wherein the media is air.
 3. The solar collector reflector systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the solar collector-reflector assemblycomprises a plurality of tubes, each of the tubes having a solar energycollection surface on one side and a solar energy reflection surface onan opposing side.
 4. The solar collector reflector system according toclaim 3, wherein the solar energy collection surface is black anodizedand the solar energy reflection surface is polished.
 5. The solarcollector reflector system according to claim 3, wherein solar energycollection surface includes a plurality of raised, black surface stripsto increase the solar energy collection surface area and induceturbulence in media flow.
 6. The solar collector reflector systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the solar collector-reflector assemblycomprises a drive roller, an idler roller, an endless belt rotatableabout the drive roller and the idler roller, the endless belt havingcorrugations with solar energy collection surfaces disposed on one-halfthe length of the belt, the remaining half of the belt having a solarreflection surface.
 7. The solar collector reflector system according toclaim 6, wherein the solar energy collection surface is black and thesolar energy reflection surface is mirrored.
 8. The solar collectorreflector system according to claim 3, wherein: the media is air; thesolar collector-reflector assembly comprises a plurality of tubes, eachof the tubes having a solar energy collection surface on one side and asolar energy reflection surface on an opposing side; and the solarenergy collection surface includes a plurality of raised, black surfacestrips to increase the solar energy collection surface area and induceturbulence in media flow.
 9. The solar collector reflector systemaccording to claim 2, wherein the media is air and wherein the driverassembly comprises: a drive torque rod extending along the length of thesolar panel; bearing support angles for supporting the torque rod alongthe length thereof; gears between the drive torque rod and the solarcollector-reflector assembly; and a motor for driving the drive torquerod.
 10. The solar collector reflector system according to claim 9,further comprising a plurality of solar panels arranged in an array, thearray being operatively connected to a dwelling air circulation system.11. The solar collector reflector system according to claim 10, furthercomprising a plurality of couplings interconnecting adjacent driveassemblies, wherein the motor drives the entire array.
 12. The solarcollector reflector system according to claim 10, wherein the ductingcomprises: an air inlet duct supplying airflow to the entire array, apartition separating the inlet duct into two compartments for equalizingair pressure drop along the array to ensure uniform heating; and an airoutlet duct having a plurality of openings for receiving the airflowthrough all the panels.
 13. The solar collector reflector systemaccording to claim 12, wherein the ducting is thermally insulated. 14.The solar collector reflector system according to claim 12, whereinduring a heating mode, air is circulated in a closed loop through saidarray and the dwelling.
 15. The solar collector reflector systemaccording to claim 12, wherein air is circulated in a closed loopthrough said array and thermally insulated air ducting to at least onewater heat exchanger.
 16. The solar collector reflector system accordingto claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted for selectively actuatingblowers and valves in a dwelling air system based upon the senseddifferential temperatures.